Price Paid:  $199.00 from The Good Guys

Summary:
Excellent HT Receiver with a nice amplifier section. Compared to most units I have auditioned, there is a noticeable warmth to the sound. I have been a Sony ES follower and am quite familiar with most of the line up and its progressions throught its history. I use it with Magnepan MMG's( upgraded crossovers ) and knowing how difficult Maggies are to drive at higher SPL's is a testament to its build quality. It has a rounder top end as opposed to grain.

I have replaced my stock cable with a thicker gauge and it made a noticeable difference in dynamics and imaging.

Strengths:
- Excellent DSP engine and limitless DSP possibilities. Having an onboard EQ capability is a must especially when matching speaker timbers. The myriad of other control functions such as variable low-pass/high pass crossovers gives the user flexibility in settings.
- EQ capabilities are such a nice option to have to fine tune each individual speakers. I use an RTA and SPL meter to calibrate these parameters.
- Very difficult to find a receiver with these capabilities such as Variable subwoofer crossover settings, tremendous EQ flexibility,
- 5.1 preamp outputs are a blessing for separate Amplifiers
- 2 subwoofer outputs
- DD and DTS surround modes are very useable, Matrix 6.1 is very impressive.

Weaknesses:
For $199.00 - are you kidding?

Similar Products Used:
Sony TA-E2000ESD, Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo

Price Paid:  $80.00 from eBay

Summary:
I bought this unit off of eBay from a seller that thought he had a problem with the unit. It turned out to be a loose connector on the volume knob, 5 minutes of tinkering and boom...It works! Man, does it sound better than my previous Sony receivers! Highs are clearer, bass is tighter, and even though it was rated lower in power, you can't tell. This has almost any and every type of hook-up that I can think of using and then some...Hell, I don't even have that much equipment! I was like many on the 'I Hate Sony' kick, but this unit has revitalized my kindship with the Sony brand. I definately think the ES line is much better than the lower end stuff by far.

As far as comparing the ES line against higher end companies like Rotel, Parasound, Proceed, or the likes, it's like comparing apples to oranges. Sony is a mass production firm and will have a lot more mistakes and be on the lower side of sound and quality. I would be really pissed if I had one of these high end pieces and they sounded only marginally better than a Sony, and many do just that!!! Why pay 3k-up for something that does a bit more than something that cost less than 1500.00, doesn't make sense to me, but it's your money!

I just love to hear those fake A$$ audiofiles whine about what they think they hear or don't hear, even though they have had no training or acoustical engineering degrees what so ever! All they do is sit and tweek knobs, people, just sit back and listen for a change and just enjoy whatever you are watching or listening to.

Strengths:
Inputs from hell. Great sound on both music and videos. Unclutered faceplate. Easy to set-up. Remote is confusing at first, but you'll get use to it.

Weaknesses:
Could use a bit more power. I wish more of the controls were hiden for a cleaner face.

Similar Products Used:
Sony STR-DE915, Sony STR-DE925

Price Paid:  $469.00 from New York Wholesaler

Summary:
I have had this receiver for about 1.5 years now and it works great. I use it every day as my TV and Satellite system run through it and have not had a single problem.

Looks like Sony makes a pretty decent reciever, but their DVD players are a pile of Junk, so to anyone interested, stay away from Sony DVD players.

I will not, however, buy Sony again for anything due to the bad experience I had with their DVD players. Sony has lost my business for life.

Strengths:
Works and works with no problems.

Weaknesses:
Remote control unit is a pile of crap and does not work most of the time.

Price Paid:  $499.00 from Crutchfield

Summary:
I'm writing this follow-up review of the Sony V333ES. I've had the unit for about two years now. The first one was returned for the protection circuit error. This one works flawlessly. No excessive heat, no hum or hiss. Speaking for Sony products in general they seem to put out what they can get away with. They fight the returns and the repairs and hope you give up. That's the hidden cost of Sony ownership. But if you don't mind putting up with it you can end up with something grand. My second unit seems to be perfect. I echo what others have said about this little guy. It's nothing short of awesome.

Strengths:
Price and sound quality

Weaknesses:
slow 2-way remote, poor user manual

Price Paid:  $599.00 from Ultimate Electronics

Summary:
The sound is great when it works. The unit went into protection mode on August 5th 2002. So I took it back to Ultimate Electronics for repair. I bought the unit there December 2001. When I took it in they told me it would be a week to look at it then another week to ten days for parts. I have called them about every ten days and now they dont know what is wrong with it. They are going to have to trouble-shoot every componet in the unit to find what is wrong with it. I called my sales man and he told me to call back on septemer 18th and he would call Sony and see what to do. Other than that or the money I believe it was the best buy out there, for a middle range reciever.

Strengths:
Many inputs on the back. Good sound quality. Good remote that will work anything.

Weaknesses:
It gets hot, should probably have a fan.